Switch and oieouit foe telegeaphs



2 Sheets-Sheet 1-. S. WILQW'ER. SWITCH AND GIROUIT FOR TELEGRAPHS. No. 361,797.

(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 26 1887-.

n. PETERS was-mac.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

S. WEAVER. SWITCH AND GIRGUIT FOB. TBLEGRAPHS.

' cuit to the other an electrical switch which UNITED" STATES Application filed January 21, 1887.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STANTON WEAVER, of Washington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electric Switches and Circuits for Telegraph and other Systems, of which the following is a specification.

Owing to the difiiculties attending the changing or switching of telegraphic instruments from one line to another, with the accompanying danger of creating confusion by the crossing of lines or leaving circuits open, it has heretofore, so far as I am informed, been the usual practice to have a full set of instruments (key, relay, sounder, and local battery, or at least key and sounder) for each line entering an office. An oflice connected-with, say, twenty lines presents on its switch-board under these conditions (with forty vertical and forty horizontal strips) at least sixteen hundred connections, the misplacing of any one of which will create confusion by crossing circuits or by leaving circuits open. To overcome these difficulties and facilitate the handling of circuits by enabling an operator to work at will on any one of a series of lines with but one set of instruments, (or at least .with but one key and one sounder, allowing a relay for each line,)'without liability of crossing wires or leaving circuits open, is the object of my invention.

I am aware that it has been proposed by others to use one set of instruments for two distinct telephonic or telegraphic circuits, and to employ for the purpose of changing the said instrument or set of instruments from one cirwould maintain in closed condition that one of the circuits not in use. This idea I do not broadly claim. \Vhat I have devised is a compact and convenient arrangement and combination of parts whereby one set of instruments can be used with an indefinite number of independent circuits-or lines without danger of crossing wires or leaving open circuits. I

part switch, the one part movable with relation' to the other. Upon one part are placed the pairs of terminal contact-points of the various circuits. Upon the other are placed the contact-strips through which the several PATENT OFFICE.

STANTON WEAVER, OF )VASHINGTOIN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SWITCH AN D CIRCUIT FOR TELEG RAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 361.797, dated April 26, 1887.-

Serial No. 225,004. (No model.)

circuits are completed, and through which, also, connection is made between thekey(us1ng the word key as typical of the instrument or set of instruments) and the selected circuit with which it is to be used. The two contactstrips for the two terminal contact-points of the key are so formed and arranged that the said points are always in contact with said strips; and from each of said key contactstrips extends a tongue in a direction crosswise of the path of movement of the movable part of the switch, the parts being so arranged that by moving the one portion of the switch upon the other the pairs of line-terminal contact-points may be brought successively in contact with said tongues for the purpose of closing the circuit between. the key t-erminals.

and the pair of line-terminals of any one of the circuits with which the key is to be used. Those of the terminal contact-points of the lines not in use rest each pair on their own independent contact-strip," said strips being so arranged and formed that the line-terminals make contact with them at all times, except when in contact with the tongues or extensions of the key contact'strips.

Having indicated in a general way the na-- ture of my improvement, I shall now proceed to describe more particularly the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect by reference to the accompanying .drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are plan views of the two parts of a switch embodying my invention, looking at their interior opposite faces-that is to say, the faces which are in contact when the two parts are put together. vertical cross-section of a portion of a complete switch of thekindshownin Figs. 1 and2. Figs. 3and 4 are plan views of the two parts of a switch of modified arrangement. Fig. 5 is a plan of another modification representing that part of the switch which carries the terminal contact-points. Fig. 6 is a sectional isometric perspective view of said part. Fig. 7 is an edge view of that part of said switch which carries the contact-strips. Figs. 9 and 10 are plan views of the two parts of another modified form of switch. Figs. 11,12, 13 represent a switch in which the two parts of the switch are cylinders instead of disks. Fig.

Fig. '8 is a .form of concentric rings.

8, and the one, 1., next adjoining it are the on 11 is a plan of the contact-strip cylinder. Fig. 12 isa plan of the terminal contact-point bar rel in which said cylinder is to be mounted,and Fig 13 is an end elevation of a portion of said cylinder and barrel fitted together.

The circuit connections of the several switches are indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 10. v

The simple form of apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8 illustrates the principle which tinuous contact-strips for the terminal points a 'n, Fig. 2, of the key or set of instruments.

The other rings, 4* 1" r", are intended one forthe pair of terminal points of each independent line or circuit, of which there are supposed in the present instance to be three.

These rings are intersected by the tongues 8'17,-

which are extensions of and electrically connected with the central rings, st, respectively. These two tongues lie side by side, extending crosswise of the path of movement of the disk A.

B, Fig. 2, is the lower disk, which forms the other half of the switch. It is provided with a pair of binding-posts, a a, for the key-connections, and with three pairs of bindingposts, I) b",.one pair for each oneof the three lines or circuits. These binding-posts are electrically connected with pins 01. n, o 0, 820. Each of these pins (which are the contactpoints) is arranged as shown in Fig. 8-that is to say, the pin, such as 0, projects up through the disk B from the bottom and is pressed by a spring, I), up against the appropriate coutact-strip on the disk A above. Spring b is put in electrical connection with its binding-post b by a screw passing up through the disk into the bindin -post. 'Ihe three pairs of contact-points '0 0'- are placed at different distances from the center of disk B, corre sponding to the positions occupied by the concentric rings 7" 1" 1' on disk A, so that the pair belonging to line 1 will meet ring 1', that belonging to line 2 will meet the ring 1, and that belonging to line 8 will meet r These pairs of points are also placed one in advance of the other in such manner that as the disk A is revolved each pair 0 0" will successively be brought upon and into contact with the extension-tongues s t, the other two pairs 0 0 remaining upon their respective annular contact-strips. The contact-points n n are so placed that it meets the ring 8 and it meets ;he rin' In this way it will be noted that These strips are arranged in thev The innermost ring,

continuous contact is maintained between the key-terminals n n and their contact-strips s it, while by revolving the disk A any one of the three pairs 0 0 of line-terminals can be brought upon the extension-tongues .s it, thus putting 'the'key in circuit with that line, while at the the inner wall of the surrounding ledge of disk B, midway between each pair of binding-posts.

Supposing the disk A to be in place upon B- and the relay-key, sounder, and local-battery connections made, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the connections made for the three main lines, as shown at lines 1, 2, and? in the same figure, with the index or stop '0 of A turned to the socket or notch 12' of B, allthree main lines would be cut out, as their respective pins 0 and o would rest or press against the contact-strips 'r, r, and 1*. To connect with line 1, the disk A is revolved so as to cause the catch 1; to engage in the socket or notch o of line 1. In this position the pin o' 1 of line 1 would press against the tongue t and 0 of the same line against 8'. .The main-line current co'mes'in, say, by way of the bindingpostb-(line1) to 0 through contact-tongues"and ring 8 to pin a, thence (as shown by the dotted 'line') to binding-post a, thence to binding' post a: of the relay, through the relay and from 'binding-postz of the same to postw of the key,

through the key and from binding-post w of the same to post a of the switch-board, thence (as shown by the dotted line) to pin oz, which is in contact with tongue t, thence through .ring t and pin 0 to binding-post b of line 1,

and thence out of the ofi ice. In this position 0 and 0 of each of the other lines rest on their respective cut-out contact-strips r and r preserving their circuits intact. Turning 12 to v puts the instruments in circuit with main line 2 and cuts out main lines 1 and 3, in same manner as hereinbefore describedin case of line 1.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 illustrate various methods of construction by which a single key and single sounder may be automatically placed in circuit upon any one of a series of lines, each line being provided with a relay, the sounder being automatically switched upon roo the local circuit of the same relay and by the same movement and means by which the key is brought into main-line circuit. Under this arrangement there are required one or more additional continuous rings and extensiontongues (corresponding to the parts 8 s t t for the key-terminals) for terminals of the cir cuit in which the sounder and local battery are included. In Figs. 9 and 10 these terminals are lettered p p, and the rings and extension-tongues exterior to the cut-out contactstrips 1 1- r are lettered u u a" at The each local circuit.

tongues. a a are diametrically opposite to the tongues s t. There are also f required three additional pairs of contact-points, one pair for Said contacts are lettered Z, Z, Z, Z", P, and Z. Each pair is placed dia metrical] y opposite its appropriate pair of lineterminals 0 0", and is adapted to make contact with the same cut-out contact-strip, i", 1*, or 1", that appertains to the latter pair.

In Figs. 9 and 10, with the stop 1; engaging in 12', both key and sounder. are cut out, and each relay is in circuit with its line, thereby enabling the operator to hear calls made on the relays of each and all of the lines. To operate on line 1, A is turned so that '12 engages in 0". The key is thus at once brought into eircuit on line 1, as hereinbefore described. At the same time and by the same motion the local connections are automatically adjusted as follows: The local current passes from pole h of the local battery to binding-post g of the sounder, through sounder and from binding-post f of same to binding-post d of the switch B, thence to pin 19, as shown by dotted line, which pin is in contact with'strip a", through a and its connections (as shown by dotted lines) to tongue a which latter is in contact with Z, thence (as shown by dotted line) to binding-post c, thence (as shown by dotted line) to local binding-post e of relay 1, through said relay and from binding-post c of same to binding-post c of the switch, thence (as shown by dotted line) to pin P, which is in contactwith tongue at, thence through strip or ring a and the pin 1), which'is in contact therewith, to binding-post d, as shown by dotted line, and thence to the other pole, i, of the local battery, as shown by dotted line.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the local connections are made in a similar manner, excepting that only one pin, 19, and one ring, are, are used, and

also but one binding-post and contact-pin are used on the switch-board for the local-connection of the switch-board with each relay, (see D D D and Z Z Z in Fig. 4,) the other local connections on each and all of the relays being collected and run on one wire to a post of the sounder, (or pole of the local battery.) Thus in Fig. 4 e of relay 1, e of relay 2, and 6* of relay 3 are collected and' run, as shown by the dotted lines, on one wire to binding-post f of the sounder. The local current, passing through the sounder and collected wires above described to the relays, finds its way back to the other pole of the local battery by the tongue u being in contact with the pin 2, which is opposite the main-line connections to which 1), Fig. 3, has beenturned, and thence through strip u, pin 1), Fig. 4, binding-post d, and wireconnection to i, the local circuitbeing operated by the relay which is on the line with which face of disk A.

connection is made.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the contactstrip and extension-tongue u u for the local connection are-placed around the edge instead of upon the In this form the disk A of Fig.1 is provided with a band, a, as shown in edge view, Fig. 7, with a projection'or tongue, it, both of suitable metal. The disk B is provided with surrounding ledge or ring of wood or other non conducting material equal in height to the thickness'ot' the disk A,and provided with pins 1) D D D (see Figs. 5and 6,) so arranged thatpin p is continually pressed against .the band it on A, and the pins D D D Ieach comes in contact with the tongue at when the disk A is turned to make the connections desired, in manner and form as here-v inbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

The disks in the accompanying drawings are shown with contact-strips, pins, and binding-posts for three lines or separate sets of connections only; but any number may be used, and by combinations of several of these switches the number of connections which may be made is without limit.

Myinvention may also be used to switch a loop or branch wire into any circuit desired by connecting the loop or branchwith the binding-posts a a and .the other bindingposts to the series of wires desired.

Figs. 11, 12, and Y13 illustrate the tubular or cylindrical form of apparatus embodying my invention, being operated in the same manner as the disk form, and as the parts which perform the same office as those in the disk form are indicated by the same letters of reference a repetition of the explanation is.

deemed unnecessary, excepting to say that the cylinder or tube A, Figs. 11 and 13, is revolved within the tube 13, Figs. 12 and 13, upon the pivots G by the index-handle H O to the point necessary to make the desired connections, the strips 'r W, &c., passing completely around A, excepting-where broken or intersected by the tongues s and t, s andt passing completely around A and being connected directly with tongues s and t, as shown in the drawings. Having now described my improvements in electric switches and circuits for telegraph and other systems and the best way now known to me of carrying the same into effect, what I claim herein as new and of my own invention is as follows:

1. Thecombinat-ion of the cut out contactstrips, the key contact-strips provided with tongues which intersect or extend crosswise of the cut-out contact-strips, and key and line terminal contact-points movable upon said strips and arranged in relation to the same and to one another, substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the pairs of main- 7 line and local-connection terminal points, re-

lays, one for each main line, the key and sounder, the pair of key-terminal contactpoints, corresponding contact-strips for the line-terminals, the key-terminals, and the local-connection terminals, those strips for the latter two sets of terminals being provided with tongues intersecting the line -terminal I In testimony whereofI havehereunto set my 10 strips and main-line and local-circuit connec- I hand this 7th day of January, A. D. 1887. tions, substantially as described,whereby when the key is brought into any one of the main- I STANTON WEAVER.

line circuits the sounder will be automatically switched upon the local circuit controlled by Wit11esses: H the relay of that main-line circuit, substan- EWELL A. DICK,

tially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set I MARVIN A. GUsTIs.

forth.

Corrections in Letters Patent No It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 361,7 97, granted April 26, 1887, upon the application of Stanton Weaver, of WVashington, District of Columbia, for an improvement in Switches and Circuits for Telegraphs, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: On page 2, in lines 66-67, the phrase, n meets the ring 8 and n meets the ring 76, should read, n meets the ring 8 and n meets ring 2?,- in line 69, the reference letters n n should read n n; in line 107, tongue t should read ring t, and in line 108, ring t should read tongue t; and that the Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 28th day of June, A. D. 1887.

D. L. HAWKINS, Acting Secretary of the Interior.

[SEAL] Gountersigned BENTON J. HALL,

Commissioner of Patents. 

